The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union has called on Rockstar Games, the developer of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, to address working conditions for its game developers.
The union is seeking official recognition from Rockstar, aiming to establish formal channels to discuss critical issues such as pay transparency, flexible working arrangements, and overtime expectations. The IWGB stated that official recognition would grant its members enhanced rights and protections, as currently seen with the recognized union at ZA/UM, the developer of the RPG Disco Elysium.
Some members of the IWGB have reportedly initiated legal action against Rockstar, alleging unlawful dismissal last October due to union activities. Rockstar has denied these allegations, accusing the individuals of gross misconduct.
The IWGB noted that its members at Rockstar's Edinburgh studio, and other UK locations in Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds, and London, began organizing in 2019. The union claims that working conditions have improved since then, citing "unprecedented" average pay rises and financial incentives offered to mitigate "crunch"—a period of excessive, often unpaid, overtime common in the video game industry leading up to a release.
Past reports, particularly around the release of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2, indicated widespread crunch practices within the company, although Rockstar has disputed claims that it was enforced. More recent accounts from journalist Jason Schreier suggest that the company has made efforts to avoid excessive overtime during the development of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for release in November and is widely expected to be a commercial success. The union believes that formal recognition is essential for productive dialogue with Rockstar's management on key worker concerns.